Stage 5: Possagno - Semonzo
Monte Grappa has a very special attraction for cyclists, so much so that the world's top riders climbed to the summit twice on one stage of the Giro d'Italia in May 2025. Twice up to where we roared down yesterday and twice down to Romano d'Ezzelino, where the descent of the Transalp is also planned today. And even without the pros, you always meet enthusiastic cyclists on these roads. At the foot of the mountain, you can even meet them all year round. It is no coincidence that the mountain has a permanent place in the Transalp, it is simply worth coming here again and again. Nevertheless, we still have a score to settle with the Grappa after many crossings. There is a road that has never been part of the TOUR Transalp route. As already mentioned, all the roads on its southern flank are the definition of the term "panoramic road". But this stretch, which was still missing, stands out once again. This road starts at Monte Tomba, an 800 metre high shoulder in the far east, which has already been crossed as part of the Transalp. From there, a narrow road winds its way in tight bends up to the alpine pastures below the summit - and you always have a view of the wide open countryside - all the way to the sea on a clear day. The route soon recedes a little and winds its way into a green basin with lush alpine meadows below the summit. But soon it's back to the southern mountain faces and to the reason why this section had to wait so long to make its appearance. The road was closed for several years because a few rock tunnels had to be renovated. However, this eastern connection to the summit is now open again, as is the connection to another stretch of panoramic road with endless views and to this second descent option via Campo Solagna down to Romano d'Ezzelino. It's just as racy as yesterday's, with a short intermediate climb but a little longer and not quite as steep on average. Two flat kilometres to Semonzo, the finish of this stage, conclude this new and spectacular east-west traverse over Monte Grappa.
Prosecco at a glance
But there's still something missing: the wonderful intro to this summit tour. From Monte Tomba in the east, you have a very good view of the Prosecco hills around Valdobbiadine. The Prosecco capital is located on the eastern side of the River Piave, just three or four kilometres from the foot of Monte Grappa. All around are sunny hills full of vines, a kitschy, bright green cultural landscape that fulfils all the postcard clichés with the red tiled roofs of the villages and wineries. And in the middle of it all, small roads wind up and down over and around the hills. It's great fun to ride through here on a racing bike. It is not for nothing that a cycling event with the illustrious name "Prosecco Cycling" takes place here every September. And just such a hilly part of it is in front of this mountain stage. This stage has two worlds and this mix is just as beguiling as a sparkling Prosecco.
TOUR Transalp stage 6: Semonzo - Lavarone
And once again we are immersed in a completely different world. Between Bassano del Grappa with the River Brenta and the Adige Valley near Trento further to the west rises an enormous plateau. The eastern part of the Sette Communi, the 7 municipalities around Asiago, is joined further west by the Alpe Cimbra, the part with the towns of Folgaria, Luserna and Lavarone, the finish of this stage. The huge rocky plateau has a few outcrops in the north, which even create peaks over 2000 metres high, and rugged valley cuts on all sides, deep cracks in the edge, with steep walls that form imposing gorges. One of these gorges is the Valstagna with one of the most bizarre roads in the history of the TOUR Transalp. The road winds up the wall in hairpin bends like steep steps. But there are no straights between the hairpin bends. Here, bends follow bends, a single meandering road that is endlessly spectacular. After 800 metres of dizzying climbing, you reach Foza, the first village on the Sette Communi.
Green plateau
An old German dialect has been preserved here, a very local language in which the place names are also written on the signs. Foza is also called "Vüsche", Asiago is also called "Sleghe". However, the connection to German becomes really clear in the village of Mezzaselva, where "Mitterballe" is easily associated with Mittenwald. Up here is farming country, land of alpine pastures, a cheese stronghold, a green carpet interspersed with fields. In Rotzo, signs advertise the potatoes that are grown here. Small forests punctuate the cultivated land. The clouds and sometimes the fog play with the hilly landscape and the valley incisions. Once you're at the top by bike, you stay at the top and cruise along with gentle ups and downs. This is a great cycling area, especially in summer, because the microclimate here is somewhat cooler. You can escape the heat below. One of the large incisions in the plateau is the Valdastico in the centre, which stretches all the way to our destination on the Alpe Cimbra.
Steep descent at the TOUR Transalp
A road leads down into the valley that is no less spectacular than the one through Valstagna: the Pedescala. But just as great as the spectacle and fun are the respect and concentration required to safely master the many bends and hairpin bends. Once in the valley, there are two ways back to the plateau. Immediately to the right up to Carbonare, the short route as last seen in the 2024 Transalp, or to the left, the long route via Arsiereo and Tonezza as last seen in 2018. To cut a long story short: it was time to take the long route once again, because this climb is once again very rewarding, because it offers great views and the road once again plays with the steep mountain faces in an extremely attractive way. We now reach the highest point of this stage at 1500 metres above sea level on Malga Melgnon. We are back in the green Almenland and can look forward to unobstructed views over the vast countryside. We soon reach the Passo del Sommo between Folgaria and Carbonare and unfortunately we have to admit to a little cheat: including it in the list of passes. From our direction, this pass is approached from the side at the top. Carbonare is 250 metres below and after the last, short descent of this stage, Lavarone, our stage finish, awaits just 5 kilometres further on.
Info TOUR Transalp 2026
- Date: Sunday, 21 June to Saturday, 27 June 2026
- Stages: seven stages, optionally also three or four
- Distance: 726 kilometres, 16,423 metres in altitude
- Start: Lienz (Austria)
- Destination: Riva del Garda (Italy)
- Basic package from 1299 euros / Premium package 1799 euros
- Info: www.tour-transalp.de
Kristian Bauer
Editor
